The 1st of May, May Day or Labour day is known as Vappu in Finnish, which is a very important occasion in Finland. This is a public holiday that is the only carnival-style street festivity in the country. People young and old, particularly students, party outside, picnic and wear caps, student overalls (the colour depending on their faculty) or other decorative clothing. The whole country uses these days to celebrate the first day of spring as well as students, both past and present, who wear their white graduation caps. It has been celebrated in Finland since 1890.
May day celebrations actually start on 30th of April. As the celebrations among the younger generations take place on May Day Eve, most prominent being the afternoon “crowning” of statues in towns around the country with a student cap.
So Kathryn and I decided to join in on the Vappu celebrations. We headed to the centrum to meet Anniina to get a quick bite to eat, before heading to hear the Labour day speeches and “crowning”. We walked towards the large crowd at Aurakatu in front of Turku Art Museum where we took our place to watch the “crowning”. We bumped into Anniina’s family and joined them. Anniina’s two friends, Elena and Rauno then joined us. We all took our first drink of sparkling wine as the “crowning” occurred at 6pm. This involved everyone lifting their graduation caps, waving them in the air and then placing their caps on their heads. After a few glasses of sparkling wine we moved on from this spot after saying goodbye to Anniina’s family. From there we continue down the street and over a bridge and sat along the Aura river. Where we popped our bottles of sparkling wine.
We then decided to visit the fun fair, which was rather expensive. It cost me five Euro for one go on the Ferris wheel.
After what felt like walking around the entirety of the centre of Turku it was late so we got the bus back to the apartment to get enough sleep for May Day and continuing Vappu celebrations the next day.
Kathryn and I got up on Monday morning the official May Day and headed to the centre again to meet Anniina. Traditionally, the 1st of May is celebrated by a picnic in a park. One tradition is to drink sima, a home-made low-alcohol mead, along with freshly cooked funnel cakes or doughnuts.
So that is what we did. We bought a salad each, Anniina had the doughnuts and sima, so we made our way to Lilja park. Which, was crowded with people in their graduation caps and overalls, eating and drinking with family and friends. Shockingly the Sun came out and it was warm enough to sit with just a light jumper on! So it felt like the official start of Spring!!
I had a great few days taking part in the Vappu celebrations and it will be a May Day that I won’t be forgetting. Turku was the busiest I have ever seen it! I had a lovely few days, in a city with a great atmosphere and even better company!!
Jessica's Journal. 